Operating-gear for doors of hopper-bottom cars.



No. 674,223. Patenti May 14, |90|.

J. smouron.

OPERATING GEAR FOB DUURS UF HOPPER BOTTOM CARS.

. (Applicltion filed Doc. 19, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

l d 12 i 3 55 I. 0,0) 3 I 0 a? o 1 I 3 6Z 1? x I F G I 6 z I f 9 1 a? a "films-as fill'fllZfiZT-J- m w 1" 5 fic's/dfamcv No. 674,223. Patented May l4, l90l.

J. smornou.

' OPERATING GEAO FOB DOORS OF HOPPER BOTTOM CABS.

(Application filed Dee. -I9, 1900. (No Model.) 2 Shaets$haet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE- JACKSON SIMONTON, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

OPERATING-GEAR FOR DOORS OF HOPPER-BOTTOM CARS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 674,223, dated May 14, 1901. Application filed December 19, 1900. Serial No. 40,404. (No model) To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAcKsoN SIMONTON, a citizen of the United States,and a'resident of Altoona, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvenientsin Operating-Gear for Doors of Hopper-Bottom Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in operating-gear for hopper-bottom cars, and more particularly to improvements in that type of gear to which the doors of both hoppers of such cars are operated from a single shaft.

The object of my invention is the provision of mechanism which shall positively open and gear holding the doors in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the mechanism for retaining the operating-shaft in positions corresponding to the open or closed condition of the doors, and Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detached perspective views of details of my improved mechanism.

In the drawings, A A represent portions of the frame of an ordinary wooden coal-car, having inclined portions (1 and a extending below the-level a of its main bottom and forming hoppers, of which two, B and B, are shown in the figures. Doors b b are hinged to the inclined sides of the hoppers, and an angle-iron 17 runs between and connects the lower edges of two doors in the same plane belonging to two of the hoppers. A three armed lever D, having trunnions d d, is supported in bearings formed in castings O O, which in the present instance are bolted to the framework of the car. One end of a squared shaft 0 runs through a correspondingly-squared hole in the leverD, its outer end This obbeing supported in a casting O. The levercast-ing D is preferably of the form shown in Fig. 5 and, besides the trunnions d d, has a link-arm cl, an eccentric arm (1 and a supporting-arm (i The link-arm d of the casting D has a hole through its end adapted to receive a pin, there being also on ita projection 61 for a use hereinafter set forth. The arm d is formed at one side of the casting D, and its edge (i is curved eccentrically to the center of the shaft. On the outer end of the shaft, which is also squared, is placed the ratchet-piece K, having projections k k, and beyond this a cap L is pinned to the shaft, as shown. This cap L is squared in section, bein g constructed to receive a Wrench or crankhandle by which the gear may be operated. A pawl K, pivoted to the bearing-casting C, is constructed to engage the projections k k of the ratchet-piece K, it being held in a locked position by the eccentric catch K A link-piece E, Fig. 8, consisting, of two flat links e 6, connected by a web 6 and having holes for connecting-pins at the ends, is pinned to the link-arm d.

Connecting-bars F and G, preferably of the forms shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, each have oneof their ends attached to eyebolts f and g, respectively, on the doors b and 1), their other ends being connected together by links it h, Fig. 9. In my preferred construction the bars F and G are made channelshaped in section, and the endsf and g, connected to the hopper-doors, are made with three branches or fingers, a pin passing through these and holding them to the eyebolts. The remaining end g of the bar G is of a similar shape, there being two slots in it constructed to receive and be pinned to the links it h. The inner end f of the connecting-bar F has a vertical link-arm f projecting from it, the under side of which is curved to conform to the shape of the end g of the bar G. The connection between the projecting army" and the end of the bar F is-strengthen'ed by ribs f the said arm also having through its lower part a hole 0) for the connection of the links h h and through its upper part a hole i for the attachment of the link-piece E.

Extending out from the side of the connecting-bar F near the end f of the same is a projection or lug f having a slightly-curved bearing-surfacef constructed to engage the side 01 of the eccentric arm 61 In operation the bars F and G,with the links 72/ h E and the three-armed lever I), act as a toggle, the said two bars being forced by the revolution of the shaft into the same straight line between the doors of the hopper and being held there by the links and the lever D, the whole being operated through the shaft 0 by a suitable crank-handle or wrench. On reversing the direction of rotation of the shaft the action is that of winding up the various links and bars around the lever D, for as the attached ends-f and g of the bars F and G are drawn up the supporting-arm (l of the said lever engages the vertical arm f of the bar F and elevates it, together with the bar G, to a position corresponding to that of widest opening of the doors. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

It will be noted that the slotted end 9 of the bar G, as shown in Fig. 7, is slightly turned down from the horizontal, thus forming a shoulder, which rests on the end of the bar F and is supported thereby when the doors are held open, as in Fig. 2. In beginning to close the doors from the open position it will be seen that the eccentric section (1 of the levercasting D bears against the projection or lug f on the bar F, thereby forcing it downward by a positive action until the arm (1 of the said lever is in a position to act to advantage.

In order that pressure against the doors or a tendency to continue the revolution of the shaft 0 past that required when the doors are closed may not allow the said doors to open by permitting the links and lever-arms d, E, and f to depart from the straight-line position shown in Fig. 1, 2. lug d is form ed on the arm (1. This eifectually prevents revolution of the lever D past the position corresponding to the closed condition of the doors.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction of parts as shown in the figures, as this is only the preferred form of a device, which may be greatly modified Without departing from the principle of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In an operating-gear for thedoors of hopper-bottom cars, the combination with said doors of a three-armed lever, means for operating the same, bars connected to the doors and to each other, and a link connecting said bars to the three-armed lever, one of the bars being engaged by two arms of the said threearmed lever, the third arm being connected to the link substantially as described.

2. In an operating-gear for the doors of hopper-bottom cars, the combination with said doors of a three-armed lever, an operatingshaft therefor, two connecting-bars attached to said doors and connected together by a link, means on the bars for engaging two arms of the three-armed lever and a second link con- I necting the said bars to the third arm of the three-armed lever, substantially as described.

3. The combination with doors, of a lever, an operating-shaft therefor, a link pinned to said lever, a connecting-bar attached at one end to one set of said doors and having at its other end an arm extending at right angles to its length, said link being connected to said arm, a second connecting arm or bar attached to the second set of said doors and a second link connecting said second bar to the first bar, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the doors of a hopper-bottom car, of a lever, means for operating the same, connecting-bars attached to said doors and to each other, an arm on one of said bars and a link connection between the said lever and the said arm, the arm also having a bearing-surface constructed to receive one end of the second connecting-bar said second bar being connected to the said arm independently of the link connection of the lever, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a device for operating the doors of a hopper-bottom car, of doors, two connecting-bars attached to the doors and to each other, one of said bars having an abutment, a link connected to one of the bars and a three-armed lever, means for operating the same, one of the arms thereof being connected to said link, a second arm supporting the con necting-bars when the doors are open and the third arm engaging the said abutment on one of the connecting-bars, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the doors of a hopper-bottom car, of a shaft, a three-armed lever thereon, one of said arms having an edge curved eccentric to the center of the shaft and being out of the plane of the other two, connecting-bars attached to the doors, one of said bars having an arm projecting at an angle to its length, an offset head on the second bar constructed to be supported by the end of the first bar, links connecting said bars to gether and to the three-armed lever and an abutment on one of said bars, in the same plane and constructed to be engaged by the eccentric arm of the three-armed lever, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the doors of a hopper-bottom car, of a shaft, a lever thereon having arms, connecting-bars attached to the doors and to each other, a link connecting said bars to one of the arms of the lever and a device other than the said arms and supported on the arm attached to the link for preventing further revolution of the shaft after the doors have been closed, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JACKSON SIMONTON. Witnesses:

VVILLIAM H. HERB, FRANK O. LISTER.

IIS 

